COLUMBIA, S.C. — Gov. Nikki Haley has ordered a special election to fill the congressional seat being vacated as Tim Scott becomes South Carolina’s next senator.

Mrs. Haley’s spokesman Rob Godfrey says she signed the executive order Wednesday morning, setting sets the timeline for the special election. Mr. Scott officially resigned from his 1st District seat in a letter Dec. 28, with an effective date of Jan. 2.

Mrs. Haley appointed Mr. Scott on Dec. 17 to replace resigning Sen. Jim DeMint. South Carolina’s first black lawmaker in the U.S. Senate will face a special election in 2014 to fulfill the remaining two years of Mr. DeMint’s term.

Mrs. Haley’s order means party primaries for Mr. Scott’s former seat from the coastal district will be March 19. Any necessary runoffs will be April 2. The general election will be May 7.

CONCORD — John Lynch — a people person’s governor by his own description — plans a quiet retirement out of the public eye, but not away from the state he loves.

The 60-year-old Democrat leaves office Jan. 3 when another Democrat, Gov.-elect Maggie Hassan, is sworn in to succeed him. Mr. Lynch said he will not speak out on issues, lobby or do anything that interferes with Mrs. Hassan’s opportunity to govern in her own style.

Mr. Lynch said he does not know what he will do next, though Dartmouth College has asked him to teach. He said he may develop a course building on three classes he taught at the college over the past few months on the differences and similarities between heading a business and governing the state.

Mr. Lynch, a former businessman, said he also may serve on corporate or nonprofit boards.

STATE

Clinton leaves hospital after blood clot treatment

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has been released from a New York hospital where she was treated for a blood clot in her head.

Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines said her doctors advised her that she has been making progress on all fronts and are confident she will make a full recovery.

He said Mrs. Clinton is appreciative of the care she received at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and is eager to get back to work. A date for her return to the State Department has not been set.